Way’s first arson attack, on April 4 last year, was caught on a security camera.

He returned to the same car park in Braehead, Bonhill, exactly a month later and set another car alight.

Way was arrested on May 16 last year after two officers patrolling the area believed he fitted the description of the man in the CCTV footage.

PC Nicholas Beattie told Dumbarton Sheriff Court: “When we stopped him, his opening line was, ‘What about all these fires, have you caught anyone for it?’”

PC Jonathan McKinnon added: “He was nervous right from the beginning. He was visibly trembling and sweating.”

Way, who lived in Redburn, Bonhill, but has since moved to nearby Renton after separating from his wife Kirsty, denied the offences throughout his trial.

But when Kirsty, 32, took to the stand she insisted police got the right man.

Asked by prosecutor Sarah Healing what made her recognise Way when the culprit’s face can’t be seen in the CCTV footage, Kirsty replied: “The way he bent down at the car. Just being with him 18 years, I can tell.”

Roddy Boag, defending, claimed Kirsty was told her husband was being questioned over a spate of fires before she was shown the clip.

He said Way couldn’t say where he was on the nights the fires were started but was certain he wasn’t at the car park.